Booking & Scheduling

How is my flight time measured and charged?

4 min read

Booking & Scheduling

Updated Feb 2026

All flying charges are calculated on block time — the elapsed time from when the aircraft first moves under its own power until it comes to a stop at the end of the flight. This is recorded automatically via GPS tracking.

What is block time?

Block time is the standard aviation measure of aircraft usage. The clock starts the moment the aircraft first moves under its own power — typically when you release the brakes and begin taxiing. It stops when the aircraft comes to a standstill at the end of the flight and the engines are shut down.

This means your charge includes taxi time at both ends, not just the time airborne. That's consistent with industry standard practice and applies to all operators. The aircraft is in use from the moment it moves — fuel is being consumed, the engine is running, and components are accruing hours.

Clock starts

Aircraft begins taxiing

Block time begins from the first movement under engine power — not from the moment you line up on the runway.

In flight

Takeoff, training, and approach

All time airborne — including circuits, navigation exercises, and approaches — is included.

Clock stops

Aircraft comes to rest and shuts down

Block time ends when the aircraft stops moving at the end of the flight. GPS tracking records the exact time.

GPS tracking

Block time is recorded automatically via GPS tracking installed in the aircraft. You don't need to do anything — the system logs the start and end of each flight and feeds this data back into Private Radar.

Because it's GPS-based, the timing is objective and consistent. There's no manual recording to misinterpret. After each flight, you can verify the block time recorded against your own experience of the lesson.

Check your flight details at check-in

Before each flight, verify your details are correct in Private Radar. If there's ever an overcharge due to a system error, it's credited to your flying account — not refunded to your card. Catching any issues early is straightforward; resolving them after the fact takes longer.

What the rate covers

Your training rate of £295 per hour covers the aircraft and instructor for the block time flown. It also includes up to 15 minutes of pre-flight briefing and 15 minutes of post-flight briefing — these are built into the training rate and not charged as additional time.

Ground school sessions (where you have additional ground instruction without flying) are charged per session rather than by block time — see the article on lesson charges for the full breakdown.

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